Question: What is jazz? Answer : Wow! That's a tough question. As you can see from this music map, jazz is a very diverse style of music, covering everything from big band anthems to solo saxophone freak-outs. I'll try to answer your question very generally using our Jazz category. Today jazz is played all over the world, but it was originally crafted and nourished by African Americans in New Orleans around the beginning of the 20th century. A key concept behind jazz is improvisation. The rhythm section (bass and drums) usually keeps a pretty steady beat, while the lead performers (saxophone, piano) play intricate strings of notes that they make up on the spot! Jazz takes a little patience at first -- it's very difficult music to play, and sometimes hard to appreciate. But after you listen to the heavenly saxophone work of Charlie Parker, or hear the smooth trumpet of Miles Davis, you may get hooked!
